This book takes a look a how we deal with our uncertain lives and times. Chodron is a Buddhist nun and she uses the teachings of Buddhism to illustrate her points throughout the book, which is actually excerpts of lectures she has given around the world. This is far from doctrinaire religion or self-help as possible, in fact she gently chides religious thinking as just another way for a person to escape from what is truly real and look for a "hand to hold" which isn't really there. The idea of waking up to the real world and truly understanding what is around you is her primary message. She also deals with self respect, compassion and the ability to develop patience and calm. I have some problems with obsessive compulsive disorder and anxiety disorder (the things that explain the occasional lapses in blogging and my absence from the live music scene) and I thought if I could calm my mind, perhaps I could enjoy and reflect on the music even better and hopefully aid some of my symptoms in the process. One book cannon fix all ills, but I thought this book provided helpful and straightforward suggestions on ways to lessen the stress of everyday life without making any grand promises that cannot be fulfilled. Comfortable with Uncertainty - amazon.com
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Hard to believe it has been twenty years since the original issue of The Complete Recordings of Robert Johnson captured the imagination of the music world. This re-issue, timed to coincide with the 100th anniversary of Johnson's birth has a major sonic revision of the music, and it sounds phenomenal. As great as Johnson's guitar playing was, I've always been captivated by his voice whether playing hokum like "They're Red Hot" or back alley stuff like "Me and the Devil Blues."
Wilson leads an atmospheric sounding quartet (on a few occasions they have added accordion for texture) on this ballad heavy set. The quartet investigates a variety of textures from acoustic guitar and brushes to swinging electric guitar with a full drum kit. A. Wilson Campo Belo ballad and mid temp oriented around solid guitar and lush piano. Break loose a few times for good post-bop.
Charlie Parr does some mean pickin' and singin' on When the Devil Goes Blind. Deep dark blues akin to Otis Taylor: hard blues for hard times. Singing about love and loss, the downturn of the economy and the potential lift of spirituality, Parr is the real deal.
) managed to score a gold record some fifty plus years after his death. Using the hundredth anniversary of his birth as an excuse for a major sonic upgrade of the Johnson catalog, it casts fresh light on the man, the legend, and most importantly, the music. The re-mastering of the music is wonderful, sounding warm and natural, but still of its time. Now broken down in a more reasonable fashion with the San Antonio session on disc one (with the alternates at the end of the disc) and the Dallas session on disc two. The music continues to astonish after all of these years and the all of the testimonials from rock ‘n’ roll musicians are hardly necessary. To hear the malice and weariness in Johnson’s voice as he sings “Hell Hound on My Trail” or “32-20 Blues” will raise the hairs on the neck of even the most jaded music aficionado. Many musicians talk about Johnson’s unique guitar style, and while it’s undeniably amazing, it’s his voice that really gets to me, Whether the joyful hokum of “They’re Red Hot” or the down in the alley singing on “Me and the Devil Blues” and “If I Had Possession Over Judgement Day,” that voice is what truly makes the performances, it is unique in all of music. Overall, this is a very well done compilation, priced well to attract those like me who own the earlier set too. The liners are well done too, featuring a fine essay along with the few remaining photographs and images. 
level. Hooker and Chapin are a match made in free-jazz heaven and frequently encourage each other during this performance with shouts of joy. The opening epic "The Subway" builds to torrid fire music with the saxophone (Chapin sticks to saxophone throughout) right up front and the drums a little distant but no less powerful. Intensely emotional collective improvisation is dominated by scalding saxophone and explosive drumming. Midway through, the music becomes lighter and more ominous as if dark clouds were gathering on the horizon. Sure enough the downpour comes in the form of molten howls of saxophone and cacophonous drumming. "Addiction to Sound" finds Hooker developing a nice rhythm with comparability gentle saxophone that probe the edges of space and time. Spacious saxophone bleats and honks develop through a building rhythm, developing heat and tension. The finale, "The Underground Dead" brings it all together with a mind-meld of duo improvisation that must be heard to be believed, sounding like the most intense yet heartfelt music imaginable. They slow things down to a simmer as a recitation or incantation is read and then it is over. Cathartic beauty for the heart and soul at its finest and an absolute must for those who explore the edges of jazz and improvisation. 
